A businessman has denied being the ringleader in a robbery of a takeaway boss who was found dead in a flat.

Naveed Naveed (28) is one of three men accused of murdering Dogan Dogan in the bedsit above his business Aladdin's takeaway, in Evington, Leicester, on January 8.

Mr Dogan, 50, had suffocated after being tied up and gagged with cloth.

Yesterday, Birmingham Crown Court heard Naveed denied being in the bedsit when the robbery and alleged murder took place.

He said he was waiting in his car outside as one of the defendants, Wali Khan, said he needed to visit Mr Dogan.

Both Khan and the third defendant, Sarwar Gader, have told the jury during their evidence they went into the bedsit with Naveed. They both also said they were not in the room when the attack which killed Mr Dogan took place.

Gader claimed he went in to use the toilet and was in the bathroom or kitchen.

Khan, who admits robbery, said he left with a bag of cash while the other two continued to question Mr Dogan about further cash they believed was in the bedsit in Linton Street.

When prosecution barrister Gordon Aspden asked Naveed yesterday if he was the ringleader behind the robbery, Naveed said: "No, not at all."

When asked if he was the only one of the defendants to be telling the truth, Naveed replied: "Yes".

Previously, the court was told by Khan that Naveed had suggested robbing Mr Dogan because he needed to raise between £5,000 and £6,000 to set up home with his girlfriend. Khan said they expected to steal takings worth £6,000. But they only managed to find just over £1,000.

Yesterday, Naveed told the jury he was not short of money, saying he ran a number of businesses.

The jury was told the three men had driven to Luton in the hours after the robbery.

Naveed, who said they had all been drinking and smoking cannabis, said he was going on a drive "to chill".

He said they planned to go to Luton for breakfast.

He denied a suggestion he wanted to get out of Leicester until the heat died down.